Steering-wheel warmer



- Feb. 8, 1927. v 1,617,226

- AQD. WHITE ET AL STEERING .WHEEL WARMER Filed Mmn 15, 1924 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WITNIESSES fl'nile fifll lq 7 M E'w .1 4'

ATTO R N EY A. D. WHITE ET AL Feb. 8

STEERING WHEEL WARMER Filed March 1 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORWITNESSES ATTO R N EY Patented Feb, 8, 19 27,.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER D, WHITE ,AND JAME S ROY RILEY, OE BEATRICE, NEBRASKA.

STEERING-WHEEL" WARMER.

" Application filed March 15, 1924. Serial No. 699,467.

ed, wherein the exhaust gases of the engine are utilized for thispurpose, the pressure of the gases, as they are expelled from the,

engine, is depended upon to insure the operation of the heating device.The result has been unsatisfactory for various reasons. The generalobject of the present invention is to overcome these difliculties byproviding practical means, whereby the satisfactory circulation of theheated gases through the steering wheel heating system is effected bysuction, preferably .the suction induced through the intake manifold bythe operation of-the engine.

A further object of the invention is to introduce the condensed vapors,after they have circulated through the steering wheel,

back into the engine, so that the moisture produced by the combustion ofthe hydro- 'gen content of the fuel may be utilized for producing steamwithin the firing chambers of the engine, and thereby removing thecarbon therefrom. A certain amount of oil is also present in the exhaustvapor which oils the valves, and insures the proper seating thereof.

Provision is also made by means of a bypass for using the system tosoften and-remove the carbon and oil the valves, during the summermonths when a heated steering wheel is not desired.

, The specific construction of the invention and the principles of itsoperation will be more fully explained in connection with theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate theinvention in its preferredform.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustra ting the general assembly ofthe invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the steering wheel.

, Figure 3 is a vertical section taken through the steering wheel andupper portion of the steering column.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional In heating devices asheretofore constructview of the connection between the steering wheeland the steering column.

Figure5 is a plan view of the boss at the upper end of the steeringcolumn.

Figure 6 is a detail elevational view of the by-pass.

Figure 7 is a horizontal Section taken on the line 77 of Figure 6.

The invention is shown in connection with the intake manifold 10 and theexhaust manifold 11 of an internal combustion engine. The steering wheel12 is secured in the usual manner to the upper end of a steering rod 13,which extends downwardly within-the steering column 14. 1 A boss 15,secured to the upper end of the column 14, forms a bearing for the upperend of the rod 13, and has a circular recess in its upper face, whichreceives the central projecting portion 16 of the hub of the steeringwheel 12. The steering wheel hub has also a peripheral annular flange 17which fits around the upper portion of the boss 15, and screws 18threaded into the flange 17 engage a peripheral groove" 19 in the boss.

The upper face of the boss 15 is provided with two concentric grooves 20and 21,- from which holes 22 and 23 extend downwardly through the bossand terminate in internally threaded nipples 24 and 25, which receivethe threaded upper ends of tubes 26 and 27 leading to the exhaustmanifold 11 and intake manifold 10, respectively.

The rim of the steering wheel 12 is hollow, as indicated at 28,throughout the circumference of the wheel, except for the distancebetween two adjacent spokes. The ends of the cavity 28 are connected bypassageways 29 and 30, through the hollow spokes to the grooves 20 and21, respectively. Since these grooves each form a complete circle aboutthe steering rod, the communication between the same and the-passageways29 and 30 is maintained in all positions to which the steering wheel maybe turned.

It will be obvious that any suction created in-the intake manifold 10will cause a corresponding suction throughout-the heating system, whichingbudes the t21be 26, groove 21, ass eway cavity passa ewa 29, g iooi20 and tube 27. The hub f thb steeringwheel has a ound Joint to fit withthe upper surface 0 the hm 15,-and the packing ring 31 seated in aperipheral groove in the boss insures anair-tight fit between the sameand the flange 17.

In-order that the circulation of the hot gas through the wheel 12 may beconveniently controlled, a tapered rotary valve or stop cock 32 isseated in one of the passageways, as 30, and may be yieldingly held toits seat by a spring 33. This valvemay be conveniently turned to shut01f or open up the circulation as desired. A-by-pass 34' is connected tothe tubes 26 and 27 near their lower ends by T joints 35 and 36,respectively. A suitable three-way valve 37 is mounted in one of these Tjoints, so as to cause circulation through the steering wheel, or cutofi the circulation from the steering. wheel and direct it through theby-pass 34.

In the usual operation of the invention in cold weather, the valve "37will be so adjusted as to cause the circulation to take place throughthe steering wheel, and the extent of this circulation may becontrolled,

while driving, by means of the valve 32. Some of the gases which aredischarged through the exhaust manifold 11 will, therefore, be drawn bythe suction of the engine through the tube 26 into and through thecavity in the steering wheel, so that the latter will be warmed, whilethe oil and water vapor contained in the gases will be partly or whollycondensed and drawn through the tube 27 and the manifold 10 back intothe firing chambers. The moisture thus introduced into the firingchambers acts as a decarbonizer, and the condensed oil vapor oils thevalves, and causes them to seat tightly. Owing to the considerableamount-of moisture which condenses in the cavity 28,- it

is necessary at times to drain the same,v so

- that it will not interfere with the passage of the hot exhaust gases,and for this purpose a plug 38 may be provided in the mm. The specificconstruction of the connection between the steering wheel and the upperpart of the steering column is also par-. ticularly well suited for theattachment of a lock to prevent the unauthorized movement of the,steering gear. As herein shown,

' the lower rim of the boss 15 is extended at one side to form an ear39, which is perforated to receive a locking bolt 40. As

I shown in Figures 3 and 4, this locking bolt has .a reduced upper endportion :41, which 7 is adapted to be received in a perforated boss 42formed on one of the spokes of the steering wheel, and the-boltmayberetained in this position by a suitable lock 43, so as to lock thesteering wheel against movement relative to. the steering column 14.

For the successful operation of a heating device of this -kind -ther'emust be a suction created of some-kind to draw the heated vapor"throughthe-hollow parts of the wheel, A'wheelcan notbe'he LtBd sucsteeringwheel or through the by-pass.

cessfully by merely using a cut out in the exhaust pipe, and trying toforce the exhaust gases by pressure through and around the wheel. Theconnection for inducing the suct on should be as close to the motor aspossible, and preferably at the intake manifold, as herein shown. Bythis means, the exhaust gases are drawn quickly into the rim of thewheel before they have time to cool. After they reach the large cavityin the rim of the wheel, they condense to form a fluid composed of waterwith some oil, which is then mlxed with air in the intake manifold anddrawn back into the motor, so that i it acts to save gas, oil the valvesand remove carbon, or prevent its formation in the cylinders.

While we have shown and described the specific construction of one formin which .our invention may be embodied, it is to be ,wheel having a rimwith a cavity extendingthrough the major portion of its length, tubesconnecting the end portions of said cavity respectively with the exhaustmanifold and the intake manifold of the motor, a bypass connecting saidtubes, and a threeway valve fordirecting the gases from the,

exhaust manifold through the cavity in the 2. In a motor driven vehicle.the'combination with an intake manifold and an ex} haust manifold of themotor, of a steering column, a steering rodmounted within said column, asteering wheel secured tocthe upper end of said rod and having a rimwith a cavityextending through the major portion of its length, a bosssecured to the upper end of the column against which the wheel hubrests, said boss having two \concentric grooves in its upper facebeneath the wheel hub in communication with therespective end portionsof said cavity, and means for connecting said grooves respectively withthe intake manifold and the exhaust manifold of the motor. 4 p 3 Ina-motor driven vehicle, the combination with an intake manifold and anexhaust manifold of the motor, of a steering column, a steering rodrotatably mounted within said column, a steering wheel secured to theupper end of said rod and having a rim with a cavity extendingthroughout the major portion of its length, a boss secured to the upperend of the column 1 against fold of the motor,.

4. In a motor driven vehicle, the combination with an intake manifoldand an exhaust manifold of the motor, of a steering column, a steeringrod journaled within said column, a steering wheel secured to the upperend of said rod and having a rim with a cavity therein, a boss securedto the upper end of the column against which the wheel hub rests, saidboss having a circular recess in the center of its upper face into whichthe central portion of the wheel hub fits and having two concentricgrooves in its upper face beneath said hub and encircling said centralportion, an annular flange on the periphery of said hub encircling theboss, a packing ring forming a seal between the boss and said flange,spokes on said wheel having passageways connecting the end portions ofthe rim cavity with the respective grooves in any position of the wheel,tubes leading dwnwardly from said grooves, and means for connecting saidtubes respectively to the intake manifold and the exhaust manifold ofthe motor.

5. In a motor driven. vehicle, the combi-- nation with an intakemanifold and an exhaust manifold of the motor, of a steering wheelhaving three or more spokes and having a rim made hollow throughout itscircumference except for that portion between two adjacent spokes, saidadjacent spokes having passageways connecting with the cavity of therim, a steering column, a boss sccured'tothe upper end of the steeringcolumn and having two grooves in its upper face whichare covered by thehub of the wheel, said grooves communicating respectively with thepassageways in said adjacent spokes, and means for connecting thegrooves respectively with the exhaust manifold and the intake manifoldof the motor.

6. In a motor driven vehicle, the combination with an intake manifoldand an exhaust manifold of the motor, of a steering column, a steeringrod rotatably mounted within thecolumn, a steering wheel secured to theupper end of said rod, a boss secured to the upper end of said columnwith the hub of the steering wheel resting thereon, said hub beingprovided on its upper face with two concentric grooves, saidsteeringwheel having a rim hollow throughout its circumference exceptfor a portion between two adjacent spokes, said adjacent spokes havingpassageways leading from the cavity of the rim to the respectivegrooves, each of said grooves forming a complete circuit about thesteering rod so that communication between thegrooves and the respectiveI passageways is maintained in all positions of the steering wheel, andmeans connecting said grooves respectively to the intake manifold andthe exhaust manifold.

7. In' a motor driven vehicle, the combination of a steering column, asteering rod journaled within said column, a steering wheel secured tothe upper end of said rod and having a rim with a cavity therein, a

boss secured to the upper end of the columnagainst which the wheel hubrests, said boss having a cylindrical recess in the center of its upperface into which the central portion of the wheel hub fits and having twoconcentric grooves in its upper face beneath said hub and encircling,said central portion, an integral annular flange on the periphery ofsaid hub encircling the boss, a packing ring forming a seal between theboss and said flange, spokes on said wheel having passageways connectingthe end portions of the rim cavity with the respective grooves in anyposition of the wheel, and means for causing the circulation of aheating medium through said grooves and rim cavity.

In testimony that we claim theforegoing as our own, we have heretoaflixed our signatures.

ALEXANDER D. WHITE.

JAMES ROY RILEY.

